Five Steps on How to Market Yourself after College
Posted by Sara Eswein on Mar. 27, 2012 / Subscribe 0
Imagine for a moment, a marathon runner who has trained for years, only to stop before the finish line. The runner has but all won the race, they have put in the training, sweat and tears to make it this far, and a couple of inches are all they need to get that trophy, people are cheering and the trophy is waiting for them at the finish line to be collected. But instead, the runner stands there, watching as other runners fly by and finish before them.
Doesn’t make sense, right?
As a recent college grad, you understand the hard work and self sacrifice - not to mention the investment that goes into getting your college degree. Even people who receive college scholarships realize college isn’t cheap.
However, keep in mind that college is not the finish line. All the hours studying, taking tests and group projects are not the end of the road. Landing that first job is the finish line, and all the competition out there in this world is after that trophy.
Investing in a well written resume is the first step. Much like the runner story above, not taking the time to put together a well written resume, you could find yourself as the person standing in front of the finish line, watching as everyone runs past you getting the first job.
Within my four years out of college I have learned a thing or two about how to position my resume to potential employers. Consider these tips when you start putting your resume together:
- Your resume is about you, but it should make the reader want to take action. It should make them take action in the sense they want to call you in for an interview.
- Be sure to use language in your resume that is about the industry and for the types of roles to which you are applying.
- It is crucial to not just list out coursework and degree completion, but to vividly communicate the value you offered while being employed in the internship or part-time job.
It is also important to include everything you involved yourself in while in school. Did you participate in a sorority or fraternity? If so, besides partying, what committees did you participate in or what positions did you hold in office? If you held the recruiting chair, what percentage increase of new members did the organization experience during your term? Quantify it on your resume – show you made a difference!
- Get over the one-page college graduate resume ‘rule of thumb.’ That’s outdated. Do you really think that a company looking to hire a president or CEO is going to say, FORGET IT, if they see a two page resume? Not likely. It’s not to say a one-page resume is bad by any means; it’s just not the only option.
- Consider reaching out to someone that has experience in writing and/or experience in the profession to review your resume. Having a second opinion is always helpful.
So remember, your resume is about you. Don’t sell yourself short before your journey even begins.
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